John 10:34
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus pushes back by reminding them that their own sacred writings, which they claim to uphold, called human judges "gods" due to their God-given authority. This highlights that the title "god" could be applied to humans in Scripture, making their accusation of blasphemy against him seem especially ignorant and malicious.
After Jesus declared, "I and the Father are one," the crowd picked up stones to kill him, accusing him of blasphemy for claiming divinity as a man. Jesus calmly responded by pointing to Scripture, reminding them that even their own Law (referring to the Psalms in this context) uses the term "gods" for human judges, thus questioning their charge of blasphemy against him for a similar, though infinitely greater, claim. He argued that if the word of God could apply such a title to earthly rulers, it surely couldn't be blasphemy for him, whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, to identify himself as the Son of God.
When challenged with blasphemy, Jesus doesn't back down. Instead, he points them to their own Scriptures and flips the script entirely.
Jesus faces accusations of blasphemy for claiming divinity. His defense? He quotes from their own Law (referring to the Old Testament broadly, including the Psalms) to show that the term 'gods' has been applied to humans within Scripture itself.
'Law' as Broad Scripture
The Power of Scripture
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Jesus reveals a surprising scriptural precedent: the Bible itself calls humans 'gods.' What does this mean, and how does it defend him?
Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6, 'I said, You are gods.' He uses this to argue that if the Scriptures applied this title to certain people, then his own claim to divinity shouldn't be immediately dismissed as blasphemy.
Appointed by God
An Argument from the Lesser to the Greater
The Jews accuse Jesus of blasphemy because he, 'being a man, makest thyself God.' Jesus clarifies why his claim is fundamentally different.
Jesus doesn't deny the truth of Scripture, but he uses it to highlight the inadequacy of the Jews' accusation. He contrasts the 'gods' mentioned in the Psalm with his own unique identity as the Son of God.
A Higher Calling
Divine Appointment and Identity
Understand the original words
nomos · Greek Noun
Refers to the entire body of inspired writings (the Old Testament); the term highlights the authoritative, divine nature of the sacred text.
theos · Greek Noun
In the context of the quotation from Psalm 82, it refers to those who receive divine authority or judicial office; Jesus uses it to defend His unique identity as the Son of God.
Jesus' reference to Psalm 82:6 isn't just a clever theological argument; it's a strategic move to disarm his accusers. By pointing to their own scriptures, where human judges are called 'gods' due to their God-given authority, Jesus highlights their hypocrisy and the flawed logic of their charge of blasphemy against him.
c. 970 BC
Psalms compiled
The Book of Psalms, containing Psalm 82:6 which Jesus quotes, is compiled during the united monarchy or early divided monarchy period.
c. 400 BC
Old Testament Canon solidified
The various books of the Old Testament, including the Psalms, are recognized as authoritative scripture by Jewish communities. Jesus' audience would be familiar with this corpus as 'the Law' in a broad sense.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry
During Jesus' public ministry, religious and political tensions are high in Judea under Roman occupation. Jesus' claims to divine authority and his critiques of religious leaders provoke strong opposition.
c. AD 30-33
Jews attempt to stone Jesus
In John 10, Jesus' declaration, 'I and the Father are one,' leads the Jewish authorities to pick up stones to execute him for blasphemy, as recorded in the Gospel.
This is the very passage Jesus quotes, showing that human judges were called 'gods' because they held delegated authority from God.
Exodus 22:28This verse instructs not to 'revile God' or curse a ruler of your people, hinting at the honor due to those in divinely appointed positions, which Jesus uses to contextualize the term 'gods'.
John 5:18The Jewish leaders sought to kill Jesus for claiming to be the Son of God, just as they did here, showing a consistent pattern of opposition to his divine claims.
Romans 13:1-2Paul echoes the principle that governing authorities derive their power from God, reinforcing the idea that human leaders can be referred to in terms of their God-given authority.
John 10:30This verse, where Jesus states 'I and the Father are one,' directly precedes the accusation of blasphemy and Jesus' defense, highlighting the core issue at stake.
calvinJohn 10:31-36: "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him."
- Then the Jews again took up stones to stone him. 32. Jesus answered them, Many good works I have shown you from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me? 33. The Jews answered him, We stone thee not for the sake of a good work, but for blasphemy, and, because thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, I said, You are gods? 35. If it called them gods, to whom the w…
henryJohn 10:31-38: "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him."
10:31-38 Christ's works of power and mercy proclaim him to be over all, God blessed for evermore, that all may know and believe He is in the Father, and the Father in Him. Whom the Father sends, he sanctifies. The holy God will reward, and therefore will employ, none but such as he makes holy. The Father was in the Son, so that by Divine power he wrought his miracles; the Son was so in the Father, that he knew the whole of His mi…
Jesus pushes back by reminding them that their own sacred writings, which they claim to uphold, called human judges "gods" due to their God-given authority. This highlights that the title "god" could be applied to humans in Scripture, making their accusation of blasphemy against him seem especially ignorant and malicious.
After Jesus declared, "I and the Father are one," the crowd picked up stones to kill him, accusing him of blasphemy for claiming divinity as a man. Jesus calmly responded by pointing to Scripture, reminding them that even their own Law (referring to the Psalms in this context) uses the term "gods" for human judges, thus questioning their charge of blasphemy against him for a similar, though infinitely greater, claim. He argued that if the word of God could apply such a title to earthly rulers, it surely couldn't be blasphemy for him, whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, to identify himself as the Son of God.
After Jesus declared, "I and the Father are one," the crowd picked up stones to kill him, accusing him of blasphemy for claiming divinity as a man. Jesus calmly responded by pointing to Scripture, reminding them that even their own Law (referring to the Psalms in this context) uses the term "gods" for human judges, thus questioning their charge of blasphemy against him for a similar, though infinitely greater, claim. He argued that if the word of God could apply such a title to earthly rulers, it surely couldn't be blasphemy for him, whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, to identify himself as the Son of God.
"Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?" — Jesus pushes back by reminding them that their own sacred writings, which they claim to uphold, called human judges "gods" due to their God-given authority. This highlights that the title "god" could…
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